Thermocouple tube



Sept. 4, 1945. G. N. GOLLER 2,384,024

THERMOCOUPLE TUBE Filed Dec. :50, 1941 George Go/Aer' Patented Sept. 4, 1945 UNI a sir i s;

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'rnrmMoooUrLE TUBE- George N. Goller, Baltimore,

Md., assignor to Rustless Iron and Steel Corporation, a corporation of Delaware Application December 30, 1941, Serial No. 424,981

7 Claims.

This invention relates to temperature-measur ing instruments, particularly to thermocouples for us in metallurgical operations.

An object of my invention is the provision of thermocouple units suitable for use in'high temperature metallurgical operations, which units are light and compact and in use are capable of :being handled easily by one person, which are which are capable of being immersed in molten j metal without fusing, which possess the ability of withstanding the shock of sudden temperature change without checking, cracking or spalling, and which resist chemical attack from molten metal, furnace gases, slag, and the like.

Other objects in part will "be obvious, and in part, pointed out hereinafter.

The invention accordingly consists in the combination of elements, features of construction and arrangement of parts as described herein, the scope of the application of which is indicated in the following claims. I

In the accompanying drawing illustrating certain features of my invention,

Figure: 1 is a fragmentary longitudinal sectional view of one of my thermocouple units on an enlarged scale.

Figure 2 is a transverse sectional view of the unit of Figure l, as seen along the line 2--2.

The reference characters denote like parts throughout the views of the drawing.

As conducive to a clearer understanding of my invention, it should be noted at this point, that a heat-resistant thermocouple employed in metallurgical furnaces and the like, for measur-.

ing temperature of molten metal, is subject to attack from a variety of injurious, metal-contaminatlng agents, There are agents in the furnace atmosphere and in the molten metal, which, upon coming into immediate contact with the thermocouple, affect both accuracy and durability of the instrument. These agents are in such forms as contaminating metal and metal oxidevapors, carbon monoxide, slag, and the like, which attack the thermocouple generally or-1ocally. Physical or chemical changes in the coupled metals cause the thermocouple to become irregular in sensitivity and wholly unreliable for customary .high practice. I

Certain of the thermocouples heretofore em,- ployed in measuring temperature of molten metals, are encased in heat-resistant casings or tubes. A thermocouple s encased is protected, to the extent of durability of the casing, from coming into direct contact with injurious molten metal, metal and metal oxide vapors, slag, and the like. The thermocouple, accordingly, is held precision pyrometallurgical free from the influence of agents usually acting to destroy its accuracy and is preserved for reliabl use so long as the casing endures.

Encased thermocouple units of the prior art,

however, are totally unsuitable for use in measuring temperatures of high melting point molten temperatures, that any metals such as stainless steel. The casings either break before temperature readings are taken or later exhibit signs of failure making the accuracy of noted temperatures dubious. The casings in many instances possess insuflicient resistance to heatand thus either melt or erode, upon being subject to high temperature duty. When partially immersed in molten metal, many of the casings are attacked along the slag line by slag ingredients, and fail by cracking in this area upon contracting or expanding.

Protective tubes, heretofore known in the art, are incapable of withstanding shock of sudden temperature change. They are subject to crack,

check or spall, upon being immersed suddenly in molten metal. This is true, particularly where the molten metal is characterized by a high melting point, for the shock, accordingly, is increased in severity. Similar difficulty is encountered where the tubes are withdrawn suddenly from a metal bath. Shock failure, of course, ruins the tube, and of more importance, subjects the housed thermocouple to contamination and resulting inaccuracy. Such failure frequently impedes the prompt obtainment of accurate tem-' perature readings.

Many of the heretofore known protective tubes are provided with thick insulating walls. Thick,

heavy tubes are difllcult to handle around the furnac and also require considerable time to heat up. Any added protection ailorded to a thermocouple by a thick-walled tube, therefore,'

is not considered a material advantage. So much time is consumed in waiting for the tube and encased thermocouple to heat up to surrounding practical advantage gained in using the unit is overshadowed. Thick tubes, moreover, break too readily when exposed to thermal shock. Heat is conducted so slowly tube that resultant (see Figs. 1 and 2) comprising, for example, a

platinum element It and a platinum -10% rhodium element ll, hot-joined at H, is housed within the protective tube Ill. The coupled metals are connected by suitable conductors l8 and i1 across millivoltmeter I! at terminals l8 and IS.

The thermocouple protective casing, made from vitreous silica or other like refractory material,

is provided with a thin adherent coating of heatresistant material ll applied externally thereto. The refractory tube I is closed at one end as at Ilia. This tube preferably ranges from 6 to 12 inches in' length, has an internal diameter of about inch, and has very thin side walls approximating inch in thickness.

I The adherent coating portion of prises large parts of graphite and mica and a relatively small amount of binder,-such as bantonite or'sodium silicate.

As illustrative of the production of thermocouple units in accordance with the provisions of my invention, I make in any well knownmanner, or procure, a fused vitreoussilica tube of the character described. 1 coat the closed end and side walls of the tube with a heat-resistant, thermal shock-protective coating of graphite, mics, and clay or sodium silicate binder.

In preparing the shock-protective coating, I prefer to mix by weight about 30% to 70% graphlie, and 2% to binder, such as bentonite, sodium silicate or the like, with remaining material which is substantially all mica. I temper the mixture with a small amount of water. After moistening, the mixture is kneaded thoroughly to about putty consistency. The composition then isapplied to the silica tube to form an external coating approximating 3; inch to inch in thickness. 1 bake the tube in a kiln or the like to. dry and harden the coating.

After the tube dries, the thermocouple element is inserted into the barrel of the tube. The point of juncture of the couple wires lies wellwithin the tubes, while the element extends-to a point substantially without the .tube. The thermocouple-and coated tube form a unit ready for accurate and efiicient service in pyrometallurgical operations. In certain instances, I iind it helpful to seal the open end of the tube'of my thermy tube comchanges suffered by the tubes upon their with-- drawal from such molten metal also is withstood effectively. They are resistant to the action of furnace gases, slag and the like, and are eroded slowly undermost severe furnace conditions.

My coated tubes, therefore, afiord excellent protection for thermocouples employed in measuring temperatures oi. molten high metals. Thermocouples encased in such tubes are accurate and reliable, for t ey are insulated in a thoroughly reliable manner from contaminating materials. The coating material does not crack, check or spall, but adheres firmly to the refractory base material.

The coated tubes, because of their thin wall construction, are light and are easy to handle, as compared to the relatively thick and heavy tubes of the prior art. Thermocouples protected by the tubes of my invention, are heated through the tubes to correct temperature in a very short time. Heating of the tubes, as, for example, to the temperature of molten metal is accomplished in about one minute: Tubes of the prior art exposed to similar conditions require approximately five or six minutes to heat up and, therefore, make the taking of temperature readings tedious and time consuming. Moreover, the speed of the readin assures 'a minimum time for contamination of the thermocouple element- It is to be seen, therefore, that accurate, reliable temperature readings are procured with one of my units, without subiecting the thermocouple or the protective casin toniiigh temperatures over a prolonged period of t e.

I find that certain refractory materials other than silica, when coated in accordance with my invention, make good protective tubes for high temperature duty thermocouples. Among these other refractories are sillimanite, or mullite (aluminum silicate). Although in certain instances I prefer to use this other refractory material in lieu of silica, I find that silica tubes are very economical to produce. A silica tube, in coated condition, represents an expenditure of approximately one dollar. Sillimanite tubes coated in accordance with my invention, on the other hand, cost about three dollars.

Thus it will be seen that there has beenprovided in this invention, thermocouple units, and

moooupie unit with suitable refractory material.

thera method of producing the same, in which the various objects hereinbefore noted, together with many thoroughly practical advantages, are successfully achieved. It will be seen that these thermocouple units are especially useful in mease. uring the temperature of molten high-melting point metals, without becoming inaccurate through failure of their refractory casings. It will further be seen that these thermocouple units lend themselves to efficient and economical production and because oflightness of construction, are handled easily and are heated readily to correct temperature without undue exposure to destructive materials.

While as illustrative of the practice of my invention, the thermocouple of my temperatm'emeasuring device is housed in a silica tube coated with a refractory composition, it will be understood that other refractories coated with the same or similar compositions may beemployed.

Likewise, while the thermocouple of my temperature-measuring device is described as comprising coupled platinum, platinum-rhodium elements, it will be understood .that iridiumrhodium, iridium-ruthenium elements, tungsten-molybdenum, or any other such elements,

melting point in substantial amount, and a coating containing 30 per cent-to 70 per cent graphite, 2 per cent to capable of withstanding temperatures in keeping with the abilities of the protective casing, may be employed.

As many possible embodiments may be made of my invention, and as many changes may be made in the embodiments hereinbefore set forth, it is to be understood that all matter described herein or shown in the accompanying drawing, is to be interpreted as illustrative and not as a W limitation.

I claim:

1. A high-temperature dutycasing for a temperature-responsive member, comprising an inner refractory casing portion comprising a substantial amountof material selected from the group consisting of vitreous silica and sillimanite, and an adherent coating consisting essentially of graphite and mica, applied externally of said inner refractory casing portion.

2. A high-temperature duty thermocouple cas-- 3. A high-temperature duty thermocouple tube having particular resistance to thermal shock, and comprising an inner refractory tubular portion made from material con silica per cent bentonite, and the balance substantially all mica, applied externally of said inner tubular portion.

4. A high-temperature duty thermocouple casing which is sensitive yet resistant to thermal shock, said casing comprising in combination, a

silica tube having a wall of about 1 6 inches in thickness and an exterior adherent coating applied thereto of about a; to 1*; inch in thickness, said coating consisting of graphite and mica suitably bonded together.

5. A high-temperature duty casing for a'temperature-responsive member, comprising a nonmetallic refractory tube,'and an adherent coating therefor essentially consisting of approxi mately 30 per cent to per cent graphite, 2 per cent to 19 per cent bonding balance substantially all mica.

6. A high-temperature duty thermocouple unit comprising a thermocouple, a non-metallic refractory casing therefor, and an adherent coating externally of said casing essentially consist-= ing of graphite and mica.

7. A high-temperature duty thermocouple unit comprising a thermocouple. a vitreous silica casing therefor, and an adherent coating externally of said casing essentially consisting of approximately30 percent to 30 per cent graphite, 2 per cent to 10 per cent bonding material and the balance substantially all mica. v v

' GEORGE N. comm.

material and the 

